Tag Archives: travel

’Tis the season for giving gifts around the world, and for our final episode of 2018! This episode, Dean and Tom present you with tips for giving culturally-appropriate gifts in the U.S., Europe, and East Asia, along with plenty of taboos to avoid as well. For instance, you’ll learn how to give money to a friend on their birthday in New Orleans, whether to give someone an even or odd number of flowers in Europe, and why giving a colleague four clocks in a white box is not exactly the best idea in China (12:00, 33:30, 38:40). While we’re wrapping things up (nicely, we hope) for 2018, we’ll be back soon with even more episodes in 2019. Bonne année à tous nos amis!

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“Let’s talk about sex, ba-by”…around the world! Dean and Tom dive into cultural perceptions and behaviors around touching, nudity, and sex (sort of) in this episode, answering questions like: How many air kisses can a visitor to Brazil expect during a traditional greeting there? (4:03) In East Asia or the Middle East, to what degree is touching in public permitted between those of the same gender versus those of different genders? (22:22) Why is it that nudity is more liberally expressed in France or Italy or Sweden than in the U.S.? (27:40) So sink back into your chair on a nude beach, or wherever you are right now, and enjoy!

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Don’t despair, dear listeners! While the days may be getting shorter, Dean and Tom are back to boost your spirits in this episode as they “island hop” from incredible Iceland to majestic Malta (5:20). Along the way, they explore the world’s first parliament, eat rancid shark, and get their passports stamped in an apartment house that’s also a sovereign state (15:40, 23:30, 39:05)!

Listen today to “island hop” with Dean and Tom, and subscribe to hear all 10 episodes thus far! Have a cultural question or episode idea for Dean and Tom? Reach out on Twitter and Facebook (@OopsCultureShow) or by email at oopscultureshow@gmail.com.

In this episode, Dean and Tom hop across the pond to explore cultural differences between the U.K. and the U.S.! The two begin with some surprisingly different customs between the two countries, like how Britons order two pints in a pub (a.k.a. two beers in a bar) versus how U.S. Americans use forks and knives inefficiently while eating (7:50). Next, they dive into an extended round of “Grammar Talk” to parse out some scary differences in English on both sides of the pond: for instance, should Tom ask for a “bathroom” or a “loo,” compliment a “fanny pack,” or eat “spotted dick” (19:35, 28:30, 37:00)?? Finally, the two chat about the royals in light of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent wedding, and why perhaps U.S. Americans care about the royal family at all (35:25). Don’t get your “knickers in a twist” waiting in the “queue” for this episode to drop; listen and enjoy today!

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Prepare for time-traveling: that is, traveling the world to see how time changes across cultures, of course! After Tom arrives “late” to the studio, Dean and Tom hurry into how time is perceived in different cultures (6:40). Next, Dean and Tom slow things down to help a listener keep his U.S. business partners “calm and happy” in Mexico (11:30). Finally, our time-traveling hosts stroll into a discussion of how and why neighboring global regions can observe time quite differently, like north and south of the Alps in Europe, or north and south of the Rio Grande in the Americas – all while Dean sips tequila and Tom resists breaking furniture (46:40). There’s no need to book a time to listen; the time is now for you to time-travel with us! (Whoa… Time.)

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This episode, Dean and Tom remain hungry for traditional foods across cultures: fish cheeks in China, black pudding and haggis in the U.K., guinea pigs in the Andes, and many more (1:45)! Next, Dean answers a listener question about visiting the Middle East during Ramadan (15:30), and does his best to drink liquified yogurt on his recent trip to the Balkans (23:20). Then, take cover as Dean explodes pesky myths regarding perceived dining pretensions in France, Italy, Hawaii, and Japan (32:09). Please, slurp up this episode as loudly as you’d like – it’s not at all rude!

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Dean and Tom are back in this episode to sink their teeth into what to do, and what not to do, when presented with traditional foods across cultures: goat eyes in Kazakhstan, natas in Portugal, fried mayflies in Mexico, and the list goes on (3:26)! As the honored guest at a Chinese banquet, Dean also guides us through the ins and outs of this formal ceremony while respectfully passing along his fish head – yes, you read that correctly (9:13, 27:34, 48:25). Then, Dean and Tom launch into an informal edition of Grammar Time, and digest the bizarre fact that “bizarre” and “bazaar” each contain a single z (38:17). Who knew? So pop five natas into your mouth, avoid those one-eyed Portuguese cats, and enjoy!

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If you’re currently approaching floor 45 in an elevator in Singapore, be ready for illegal chewing gum and used earbuds! Dean and Tom explore our cultural behaviors on a wild elevator ride (4:59), then rudely – or not – elbow their way into a discussion of personal space in Hong Kong & China, Buenos Aires, and London (21:27). Love what you’re hearing? While a 5 rating may be the highest that you can give, go ahead and give us a 10 – or a 1 if you read from right to left – on iTunes!

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In this episode, Dean and Tom share taxi adventures and delve into what to do, and not do, when in the backseat, or maybe the front seat, in India, Australia, and Japan – all while they swat away malarial mosquitos and sing “Oh My Darling, Clementine” (6:22). Next, Dean answers a listener’s question about cultural differences around smiling and laughing in Malaysia and the U.S. (19:57). Then, the topic of men’s outerwear somehow comes up, so put on your culturally-appropriate listening shorts and enjoy!

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Please scrape that gunk off your shoe before entering this episode! Dean and Tom explore shoe protocol in the home as well as New Year’s traditions across various cultures, leading them – of course – to find their hands in a bowl of Argentinian (NOT Argentine) pink underwear. Get toasty in your puppy slippers so you don’t fall out of a tree like a frozen iguana while listening; this episode’s gonna be a three dog night!

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